This Day in Bovina for July 2021

Here's the compilation of the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page daily entries for July 2021:

102 years ago today, on July 1, 1919, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Lloyd Oliver had a narrow escape …from going off the high wall at Alex Myers' in his car.  Something was wrong with the car and Terry, the garage man, towed it backwards to the top of the pitch and he started to coast down.  In front of the Myers house a rod dropped down careering the car into the air so that only one wheel was on the ground and when it righted itself it was on the wall and less than a foot from the edge.  Mr. Oliver who had no brakes, succeeded in guiding the car along the wall and it was stopped in front of Elliott Thomson's."

 

Forty-one years ago today, the July 2, 1980 Stamford Mirror Recorder included this item in the Bovina column, written by Ann Cairns: 

113 years ago today, on July 3, 1908, Norman Hawley was married to Edith Michelbach  in Bovina, with the Rev. Norman Speer officiating and Mrs. E.E. Hastings and John T. Coulter as witnesses.  About six weeks later, on August 18, Norman was arrested at the farm of John A. Irvine on Coulter Brook, where he was a hired hand, for having deserted from the regular army about a year previous while stationed in Vermont.  His wife was living in Binghamton at the time, probably with his parents.  The letters that passed between them led to his discovery.  What actually happened to him after his arrest is not clear, but by 1910, he was living in Binghamton with his wife and parents.  They later settled in Syracuse, where Hawley worked for the railroad.  His arrest for desertion does not appear to have had a major impact on his life.

 

Sixty-six years ago today, on July 4, 1955, Isabell Russell recorded in her diary "A grand day nice & clear but very hot. Charles was over and we ate on the side lawn had our new picnic table." Charles was Cecil's brother. I believe this photo is from that day - Hildreth Russell, Charles Russell, Cecil Russell and Isabell Russell. 

 

114 years ago today, the July 5, 1907 Andes Recorder Bovina column reported that: "The telephone service in Bovina is on the 'bum' and with no signs of anything better. It is stated that the central for the Rose lines will be at Hobart and in order to talk with Andes for example it would be necessary to call Hobart and then talk via Delhi. Certainly very convenient."

 

Twenty-eight years ago today, the July 6, 1993 issue of the Delaware County Times included this photo of Florence Thomas with one of her late husband, Clayt's, antique cars.

 

 

122 years ago today, the July 7, 1899 Andes Recorder in its Bovina column reported that "Quite a number of new mowing machines have been bought this year.  Besides those mentioned last week they are Walter Biggar, a McCormick; E. Burgin, an Osborn; James Coulter a Walter A. Wood and F.C. Armstrong, a Buckeye."

 

123 years ago today, the Bovina column of the July 8, 1898 Andes Recorder reported that "The forest worms are committing great ravages in many sugar camps.  In Stephen Russell’s camp they have many of the trees stripped of leaves, and in many other places are equally as bad."

 

Thirty-six years ago today, the July 9, 1985 Daily Star carried this article about Bovina native Enid Carter, who was retiring as a home economics teacher in Oneonta. 

 

109 years ago today, the July 10, 1912 Delaware Gazette carried an article about what later became Route 28: "RIGHT OF WAY SECURED. Tuesday, Chairman Dickson, with [town] Supervisors Johnson and Palmer went over the route of the Andes-Delhi State road in company with an engineer and completed the work of securing the right of way. The damages in Bovina, range from nothing to $200. Some of the trees at Lake Mahican will be saved by a slight change of plans."

 

102 years ago today, the July 11, 1919 issue of the Catskill Mountain News reported "William T. Miller of Pink Street, Bovina, who had ten head of cattle killed by lightning recently, had no insurance, and $114 received for the hides is the only recompense he will have for the stock."

 

160 years ago today, on July 12, 1861, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, Robert A.T. Dean died of diphtheria. He was 27 years old the son of John Dean and Elizabeth Johnson. He is buried in the Bovina Cemetery. 

 

152 years today, on July 13, 1869, James Campbell filed with the town clerk a notice concerning a stray colt that showed up at his farm.  "Notice is hereby given that an iron grey horses colt came to my premises this morning, the owner is requested to prove property, pay charges and take the same away.  Dated July 13, 1869, James M. Campbell"  Campbell's farm was on Scutt Mountain Road. 

 

Fifteen years ago today, the July 14, 2006 Delaware County Times carried this article about the Bovina Library seeking books for the Ogden Library in Walton, which had been recently hit by a devastating flood: 

 

Ninety-five years ago today, on July 15, 1926, as reported in the Stamford Mirror, "Mrs. Belle Hilson, Miss Jane Hilson, Miss Elizabeth Strangeway and Miss Ruth Coulter left Thursday for the Pacific coast.  Mrs. Hilson and her daughter expect to visit points in California, while Miss Strangeway and Miss Coulter will attend the Young People's Convention in Seattle."  Belle Hilson was the widow of Alex Hilson and lived in the house now occupied by Chris and Mike Batey.  Elizabeth Strangeway was the aunt of Ruth Coulter.  Ruth would later marry Bill Parsons.

 

Margaret Doig was born 182 years ago today on July 16, 1839, the daughter of William Doig and Jane Forrest.  She died a month after her fourth birthday on August 16, 1843.

 

118 years ago, on July 17, 1903, as reported by the Ithaca Daily News, "Mr. and Mrs. David Hoy left for their vacation in Bovina." Hoy, the uncle of Fletcher Davidson and Vera Storie, among others, grew up in Bovina and became the Registrar of Cornell University for many years. He also is responsible for starting the extensive genealogy files referred to as 'Early Bovina Families.' I, for one, will always be grateful for his pioneering efforts in documenting Bovina's history.

 

174 years ago today, on July 18, 1847, two families with Bovina connections were bereft of children. Both children were about 3 years old.  Robert Forrest, the son of Thomas E. Forrest and Ellen Raitt, is buried in the Old Associate Presbyterian Church cemetery (more commonly known as the Reinertsen Hill Road cemetery). In that same cemetery there is a memorial stone to Robert Scott, the son of Robert and Ellen Scott. Robert died at sea.

 

103 years ago today, on July 19, 1918, Bovina was hit with a heavy storm that caused considerable crop damage and killed three cows.  Gardens and field crops, including William Archibald's buckwheat were destroyed by hail, some of the early stones being as large as plums (the Archibald farm was at the lower end of Bovina Center, what is now the McPherson farm).  The maple tree at the home of the Muller sisters (across from about where Hugh Lee's is located) was struck by lightning.  Lightning traveled into the house of Adam Laidlaw through the telephone lines but did no damage (Laidlaw is where Marie Burns lives now).  A.B. Phyfe, who had the farm now owned by Tim and Kristin Schneider, saw his entire dairy of three cows killed by lightning.

 

Eighteen years ago today, on July 20, 2003, I took this photograph of my dad, Charlie LaFever, with the Davidson brothers, Richard, Ed and Alan. It was the last time these four gentlemen would gather like this. Charlie and Alan died within a couple of weeks of each other in early 2004. Ed and Dick continued their annual trips to Bovina for about another decade. Ed passed away in 2019. Dick lives in California. 

 

Sixty years ago today, the July 21, 1961 issue of the Oneonta Star included this story about the family of baseball great Whitey Ford spending some time at Suits-Us Farm: 

 

138 years ago today, on July 22, 1883, Mary Isabella Hoy Davidson, wife of Douglass Davidson, died giving birth to an infant son, who also died the same day.  Five years later, Douglass was remarried to his late wife's sister, Margaret Jane Hoy.  They would have four children, two of whom, Vera and Fletcher, would survive to adulthood.

 

120 years ago today, on July 23, 1901, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "the first load of lumber was drawn for the creamery at the Centre…"

 

197 years ago today, on July 24, 1824, James Coulter posted the following notice to be published in the Delaware Gazette: "Six Cents Reward. Ranaway from the subscriber an indented apprentice named Thomas Freeman. All persons are hereby forbid harboring or trusting him on my account, as I will pay no deb of his contracting. The above reward will be paid by the subscriber to any person who may apprehend and deliver said boy to him but no charges will be allowed."

 

Eighty-seven years ago today, on July 25, 1934, J. Douglas Burns died in Bovina at the age of 75. He was a lifelong resident of Bovina, the son of John Burns and Nancy Ormiston. He married Maggie Doig in 1879. They had five children, four of whom survived to adulthood - Arthur, Eva, Elizabeth and Willam C.

 

140 years ago today, the Bovina column for the July 26, 1881 Stamford Mirror reported that "The new boat on the pond at the coopershop is a source of attraction for the small boys, and some large ones."

 

Thirty-nine years ago today, this article appeared in the July 27, 1982 Delaware County Times about Russell's Store.  

 

Eighty-one years ago today, on July 28, 1940, Elizabeth Richardson Irvine passed away.  Mrs. Richardson lived in what is now Tony and Norma Gabriele's house.  She had been ill only a few days before her death.  Born in 1866, she married John Irvine and had five children.  Her husband John died in 1918 and she had lost a son, William, in 1929.  Elizabeth was survived by sons Lester, Clifton and Lloyd and daughter Isabell Russell.  Clifton and Lloyd were living in Washington State at the time of their mother's death, so they sent this telegram on hearing the news to their sister. 

 

105 years ago today, the July 29, 1916 Delaware Republican carried this Bovina column: 

 

Eighty-seven years ago today, on July 30, 1934, David Currie resigned as Bovina Town Clerk. James Hoy was appointed to fill the position. Hoy would hold the position for about a year when David Currie would resume it and hold it until 1945. James' wife, Margaret, succeeded David in the position, becoming the first woman to be the Town Clerk for Bovina.

 

Sixty-nine years ago today, the Bovina column of the July 31, 1952 Delaware Republican Express included this: "Mr. and Mrs. William Rockefeller and Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Thomas and daughter, Patty, enjoyed a trip to the Catskill Game Farm Sunday." The same column also reported that "Fred Henderson and Andrew Reinertsen began work Monday on a carpentry job on the Ralph Barnhart house in South Kortright." And finally, this item: "Jimmy LaFever of Unadilla is visiting at the home of his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Leif Reinertsen."

 

 

A High Day for Family Quarrels in Brushland

The Stamford Mirror's February 17, 1880 issue had the following item under its Bovina column:

Last Sunday seems to have been a high day for family quarrels in Brushland. A row was begun that day by Charles Allen and wife, which resulted in demolishing the clock and a separation of the parties, Mrs. Allen going off with her father on Tuesday, taking her share of the household goods with her. A similar affair occurred between Robt. Agnew and wife. Agnew is a blacksmith by trade, and located here some time last fall. This worthy couple have been in the habit of quarreling occasionally ever since they have been here, and on Sunday (according to Mrs. Agnew’s story) Agnew shut her up stairs, and kept her there all day, with nothing but two cold griddle-cakes to eat. On Monday, she went up to Mrs. Boyd’s (a relative of Mrs. Agnew’s) and returned home on Tuesday. Agnew came from his shop in the evening, and finding his wife at home, the quarrel was again commenced, when Agnew put his wife out of doors, and threatened to kill her if she came in again. Soon after this, Thomas Miller was crossing the stone bridge, near Strangeway’s store, and heard a noise, as if some one was trying to break the ice, and going down the stream a short distance found Mrs. Agnew, who acted as if she intended to drown herself. She was then taken to M. Dickson’s, where she remained over night. The next day she went to Boyd’s, and is there at present, but is said that she intends to leave Agnew and go back to her mother, who we believe, lives in Scotland.

Mrs. Agnew showed up in the papers again in August 1880. It isn’t clear but it seems she may have overstayed her welcome at Dickson’s:  

Stamford Mirror, August 24, 1880: Michael Dickson having obtained a judgment against, Mrs. Agnew served, an execution on her Monday last, and levied on "three silver dollars, also the potatoes and apples in the garden at present occupied by her," and ordered her to vacate the premises within three days.  The three days have expired and she is still in possession of the premises, and says she has a club laid up to break Mike's head with if he troubles her again."  

I have found few clues as to who she was, but I think she was born either Margaret Jane Boyd or Margaret Jane Mcbirnie. Born around 1849 in Scotland, she was married to Robert Agnew, probably in Scotland. In 1871, she was living in Renfrewshire, Scotland with her husband and one-year-old son, also named Robert.

After her appearance in the news (and in the 1880 census), Mrs. Agnew disappears. Did she go back to Scotland as she threatened? We just don't know. 

July 1921 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

Bovina in the first full month of summer in 1921 saw a broken hip, a runaway horse, and a dispute between two farmers on Pink Street that led to an assault charge. 

July 1, 1921

• James Monroe and wife motored to Andes on Wednesday.

• The first installment of boys will arrive Friday at the Gerry camp in southern Bovina.

• Mrs. Adam G. King, of Walton, who was visiting at Fred Thomson’s fell and broke her hip.  She had just returned from an auto ride and lost her balance and fell off the edge of the front steps as she was entering the house.  As her age is about 70 the accident is a serious one. [Actually, she was 81 when she had this accident and amazingly, given that a broken hip usually was a death sentence, she survived until 1928.]

July 8, 1921

• Margaret Gordon visited at Walton last week.

• Master John Gordon, of New York, is at Mrs. Thomas Gordon’s. [John Gordon was the step grandson of Mrs. Gordon.]

Bovina Boy Married

Everett Orr Russell, formerly of Bovina, and Ethel Harris, daughter of the late Dr. Harris, formerly of Andes and Walton, were married June 22, at Los Angeles, California. [Everett and Ethel lived in California the rest of their lives. He died in 1966, predeceased by his wife.]

July 15, 1921

• Frank Miller is the first to finish haying.

• Wednesday morning as Charles A. McPherson was coming to the creamery the hold back strap broke on the Myers pitch and let the wagon onto the horse.  Mr. McPherson succeeded in stopping the horse near Hilson’s store without colliding with any of the numerous teams and no damage was done.

July 22, 1921

• C.S. Terry has been on the sick list the past week.

• It is reported that the Ed Coulter farm has been sold to an Italian.

• Master Frank McPherson, son of Chas A. McPherson, fell out of a tree last week and broke his arm just above the elbow.

• Rev. and Mrs. Robb, who are missionaries to India, are enroute to Bovina to spend some time with relatives.  Mrs. Robb before her marriage was Jen Campbell. [Jen was the daughter of Duncan Campbell and Nancy Campbell. The Robbs settled in California. Jen died in 1948, Rev. Andrew Robb in 1953.]

A Bovina Scrap

Trouble Between Neighbors Results in an Assault Charge

Mr. Hadley, on the Marshall Thomson farm, swore out a warrant against Ed Leftgren [Lifgren] charging him with assault in second degree.  The trouble is said to be over a spring.  G. Leftgren lives just across the road on the Lyle Thomson place and has the deed to a spring on Hadley’s side of the road.  Friday afternoon when Hadley was in his barn milking Leftgren and his two sons went to the barn and it is alleged charged Hadley with cooling his milk in their spring, and Hadley claimed he only dammed the waste water.  In the trouble Hadley alleges that young Leftgren knocked him down and that he was pounded.  In support of his charge Hadley shows bruises and cuts and a broken finger.  The trial is set for Wednesday.

July 29, 1921

• Bovina had heavy thunder storms Thursday afternoon.

• Mr. Barnes will move onto the Fine Hunt farm up Coulter Brook.

• Mrs. Estella Oliver has gone to Walton to help care for Mrs. A.G. King, who broke her hip a few weeks ago while visiting in Bovina.

• An addition is being built onto the Bovina Center Co-Op Creamery building and preparations are being made to manufacture the skim milk into cheese.

This Day in Bovina for June 2021

Twenty-eight years ago today, the June 1, 1993 issue of the Delaware County Times carried this picture of former Bovina resident, Theresa Conklin. Theresa was born Theresa Hobbie in Walton in 1923, the daughter of William Hobbie and Elizabeth Mills. She came to Bovina when she was 9 years old and married to Howard Conklin in 1945. They farmed on Reinertsen Hill Road for over 30 years, retiring in 1978. Theresa died in August 1998 at the age of 75.   

 

190 years ago today, June 2, 1831, an arrest warrant was issued for John Rutherford and John Renwick: "Whereas complaint hath been made before me, John M. Landon, one of the Justices of the peace for [Delaware] county upon the oath of David W. Thomson of Bovina ... that John Rutherford and John Renwick did on the 11th day of May last violently assault and beat him the said David W. Thomson at Bovina … therefore in the name of the people of the State of New York to command you forthwith to apprehend the said John Rutherford & John Renwick of Bovina & bring them before me, to answer unto the said complaint, & further, to be dealt with according to law…" The October 12, 1831 Delaware Gazette reported that "John Rutherford, was tried on an indictment found at the last [Court of] Oyer and Terminer for an assault and battery on David Thompson, and found guilty. He afterwards presented to the court an affidavit in mitigation, shewing that he was not angry at the time of the commission of the offence, and was permitted to escape with the moderate fine of ten dollars." What happened with John Renwick I have yet to determine.

Fifty-one years ago today, the June 3, 1965 Delaware Republican-Express reported in its Bovina column that "Enid Carter of Schenectady spent the week-end with her mother in Bovina. Her mother [Edna Carter] had just recently returned from the hospital." The same column also reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Parsons and family enjoyed a picnic dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vitgo Skovsende at Andes."

 

162 years ago today, on June 4, 1859, Alexander Sylvanius Bramley, son of John W. Bramley and Margaret McCune was born. He would die only 21 days later on June 25. John and Margaret had a total of eight children, five of whom made it to adulthood. Alexander was their fifth child. This is his headstone, courtesy of Ed and Dick Davidson. 

 

143 years ago today, the June 5, 1878 Delaware Gazette, reported on Bovina's ranking concerning a number of aspects related to farming, noting that Bovina was 17th in the county in acres, in gross sales the thirteenth, in bushels of corn the 14th, in number of cows 14th, etc. The article also noted that Bovina was 10th in the pounds of butter produced and first in the butter produced per acre - 14 1/10 pounds. Here's the full article: 

 

192 years ago today, on June 6, 1827, the following advertisement appeared in the Commercial Advertiser: 

 

Fifty-four years ago, the June 7, 1967 Oneonta Daily Star carried this article about the fate of the school building in the Bovina Center hamlet. The building is now the Bovina Public Library.

 

117 years ago today, the June 8, 1904 Delaware Gazette reported: "Hon. E.T. Gerry expects to leave New York on Wednesday next, in his coach and four and drive to his Lake Delaware summer home. In making the trip sixteen relays of horses will be used, the distances of each section being from twelve to fifteen miles. He expects to arrive at Lake Delaware Thursday evening. Elmer E. Hastings of Bovina Center, went over the route and arranged the horses. The party will come up the east side of the Hudson River and cross at Kingston.”

 

172 years ago today, the June 9, 1849 issue of the New-York Daily Tribune reported on continuing Anti-Rent activity in Delaware County, four years after the infamous shooting of Osman Steele in Andes. "Two very spirted Anti-Rent meetings have been recently held in Delaware Co. Robert Scott, Esq. presided at the Equal Rights demonstration, held in Bovina on the 1st inst. The Delhi Freeman's Advocate says the meeting was held for the, purpose 'of reorganizing the town with the view of cooperating with the other towns in this county, that are laboring under the blighting curse of patroonery.'"

 

134 years ago today, the June 10, 1885 Lancaster Intelligencer reported that "President Cleveland has appointed Isaac H. Maynard of New York to be second comptroller of the treasurer…The office is worth five thousand dollars a year. General satisfaction is expressed with the appointment." Maynard grew up in Bovina, born there in 1838. Maynard became a lawyer and served a term in the New York State Assembly. 

 

132 years ago today, the Bovina column in the June 11, 1889 Stamford Mirror reported the following: "Coulter Bros. are making post office boxes for Alex Hilson, the newly appointed postmaster. It is expected that the business of our post office will now be increased, at least to the extent of the patronage of the new postmaster, while the Lake Delaware office will lose its patronage, which it has enjoyed for many years."

 

193 years ago today, on June 12, 1828, Alexander Hoy was born, the son of Robert Hoy and Nancy Bailey. He married Elizabeth Hilson in 1863 and was widowed in 1887. Alexander died in 1906 and is buried next to his wife in the Bovina Cemetery.

 

Eighty-one years ago today, the Lake Delaware column of the June 13, 1940 Delaware Republican reported that "Miss Angelica Gerry has opened Ancrum House for the summer and has as her guest Saxham Deury of Newport, R.I." This may be a gentleman named Francis Saxham Elwes Drury (1859-1942).

 

102 years ago today, on June 14, 1919, as reported by the Andes Recorder, "Sergeant Donald Lee, a member of the Lightning division, who served over a year in France, arrived home ….having received his discharge."  Lee was born in Bovina in 1896, the son of John Bruce Lee and Lucy A. Hall.  The Lee family lived on Lee Hollow.  Donald was a US Army Sargent during World War I, receiving the Purple Heart.  Donald lived to see his 99th birthday, dying in Florida in May 1995, the last Bovina World War One vet to pass away. He is buried in Bovina.

 

185 years ago today, on June 15, 1836, the session of the Bovina Associate Presbyterian Church met and went through several items related the conduct of members of the church. "Christina Elliott appeared before session to answer do the sin of fornication and also her imprudent conduct in other reports for which she declared her sorrow…" She was willing to submit to a public rebuke and to be suspended for a time. Elders reported on several other issues, including discussions with Temperance Wooden and Elizabeth Coulter about dancing, with John Miller concerning his attendance at a Methodist service and Hellen Elliott for not coming to church.

 

121 years ago today, the Delaware Republican for June 16, 1900 reported  that Woodburn & Smyth, the monument dealers in Delhi, had sold several "fine monuments," including to "W.H. Bramley a Dark Barre Granite Sarcophagus of modern design, to be erected in Bovina Center, NY, to the memory of his father and mother who died suddenly last winter. This monument consists of cap, neatly carved and polished on four sides, die polished on four sides with Grecian border traced around the top; second base moulded and polished on four sides, bottom base rock finished and corners margined." [need to get photo of monument - row 3 plot 18

 

111 years ago today, the Bovina column of the June 17, 1910 Andes Recorder reported that "Dr. Ward Young and family expect to leave next Monday to spend two weeks at his old home in Canada."

 

Two hundred and forty-five years ago today, June 18, 1776, Thomas Elliott was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland. He married Magdaline Thomson and had six children. He died in Bovina in 1838 and is buried in the Old Associate Presbyterian Church cemetery in Bovina.

 

141 years ago today, a letter to the editor of the Stamford Mirror dated June 19, 1880 was received and published in the paper's next issue. It was written in response to this item in the June 15, 1880 Stamford Mirror: “Norman sometimes gets the neighbors dogs set on him, when he is going to see his girl.” The letter in response to this read as follows: “Brushland, June 19th, 1880. Mr. Mirror:- The author of Bovina items is mistaken about the 'neighbor's dogs.' The only shadow of reality lies in the attack of that barking one who calls himself your correspondent. Truly, N.B.A.”

 

120 years ago, on June 20, 1901, the Bovina 'uptown' cooperative creamery was organized.  As reported in the Andes Recorder, the "creamery will be built on the Andrew T. McFarlane [McFarland] farm," now the Schumann property.  Thirty farmers were to participate.  The trustees elected were Andrew McFarland, George T. Russell and Alexander Burns. The Recorder went on to report that "[t]he contract for the building and apparatus has been let to F.B. Floyd for $4,350 and it is to be ready for business by September 1."  This creamery was organized a couple of months before the Bovina Center Cooperative Creamery was organized.  The uptown creamery building is no more, though the foundation is still identifiable. Here's a recently identified photo of the creamery:

 

140 years ago today, the June 21, 1881 Stamford Mirror carried this somewhat cryptic item: "The Bovina 'Gossip' misquotes part of an item from the Mirror, and then makes an assertion concerning a 'schoolmarm' which the pupils attending the school taught by her say is a lie."

 

157 years ago today, on June 22, 1864, a vote was held in Bovina to pay a bounty of $500 to any man enlisting in the Civil War, to be credited to Bovina.  There were several such votes during the war, each time for a larger amount.  By the end of the war, it was up to $800.  This vote was the closest of the war, passing by only one vote, with 68 for and 67 against.

 

Fifty-seven years ago today, the June 23, 1964 Oneonta Daily Star carried this item about the Bovina Center Co-op Creamery:

 

Sixty-seven years ago today, the Stamford Mirror for June 24, 1954 reported that "Teacher Awards Prizes to Grade Students." The article: Prizes awarded to children in the Bovina Center grade school by their teacher, Mrs. Ray Jardine, were as follows: perfect attendance, Mary Anne LaFever, Jim Hilson, Jeanetta Erway, Norman Hall, Jean Damgaard, and Janet Hoy; most improvement during the year, Betty Conklin and Janet Hoy; and highest average in class, Stewart Rosa, fourth grade; Jean Damgaard, third grade; Steve Rosa, second grade and Linda Graham, first grade.

 

Eighty-five years ago today, June 25, 1936, Marjorie Russell received her high school diploma from Delaware Academy. 

 

Seventy-nine years ago today, on June 26, 1942, the Bovina town board passed a resolution choosing the Bovina Community Hall as "an Airplane Observatory for the duration [of the Second World War]." The town agreed to furnish a "telephone and all needed appliances" unless the County agrees cover these expenses.

 

Eighty-two years ago today, on June 27, 1939, the Delhi Grange met. As later reported in the Delaware Republican, Master Herbert Jensen "announced that all members from Bovina Grange, which surrendered its charter this week, are very welcome to join Delhi Grange; twelve names have already been received from Bovina." I know that my grandparents, Ben and Anna Bell LaFever, joined the Delhi Grange and were active in it their entire lives.

 

Ninety-two years ago today, in the Bovina column of the June 28, 1929 Delaware Express, it was reported that "Bovina was thoroughly watered Sabbath (June 23) night by the very hard rain which lasted several hours. The small flat back of Frank Miller's house [now Roger McIntosh’s house] was nearly covered with water."

 

126 years ago today, on June 29, 1895 (as later reported by the Andes Recorder) "Dr. Barnard was in town Saturday extracting teeth without pain." This likely is a gentleman named Homer H. Barnard from Milford in Otsego County. He shows up in several census records as a dentist.

 

Eighty-three years ago, on June 30, 1938 (as later reported in the Andes Recorder), "Rev. and Mrs. Peter McKenzie traveled to Newark to see their two daughters sail on a six-week trip to Finland." The McKenzies had three daughters, Janet, Elizabeth and Margaret. Which two daughters was not stated in the newspaper, though it probably was Janet and Elizabeth.

 

 

Brushland Rhymes

In March 2013, I presented in two parts the story of the lawsuit between Bovina's two Presbyterian Ministers. Rev. Joshua Kennedy of the Bovina Reformed Presbyterian sued J.B. Lee of the Bovina United Presbyterian Church for slander in 1869. Thanks to Samantha Misa's perusal of the Bloomville Mirror at the Delaware County Historical Association, we discovered some information from early 1868 that had escaped my earlier research. It starts with the January 28, 1868 issue. Dated January 16, it reads:

"Friend Champ: - Having passed through several towns in this County, about Holidays, I have been a little amused with the different sound of Church bells. In one place it said, “Come and be dipped! Come and be Dipped!” another said, “There is room for all! There is room for all!” and in the little town of B, there is one that puts the cap sheaf on all that I ever heard. It speaks very distinctly in this way: “Down with the Methodists! Down with the Methodists! Down with the Methodists! Down with the Methodists! Slander Mr. K! Slander Mr. K! Eternal Damnation! Eternal Damnation!” and so say the congregation, their Minister not excepted."

The letter is signed "Peace Maker." 

Three weeks later, the February 18 issue of the Mirror included on its front page a poem entitled "Brushland Rhymes." The writer of the poem knew details of the rumors involving Rev. Kennedy. The spreading of these rumors by Rev. Lee led to the slander suit. Here's the full poem:

Oh! howl and look ye demons all,
For Peace Maker has had a call – 
To blow some gas and write the news,
For other people to peruse;
‘Bout bells he writes, and blows his gas,
And brays just like some silly ass:
He’s heard a bell up in a steeple
When ringing loud to call the people.

“Come and be dipped!” it called aloud,
As coming from some distant cloud;
This seemed to smite his wicked heart,
So from this town he quick did start,
And made his way along the road
Bending beneath a sinner’s load;
He went around from town to town, 
And looked just like some awkard clown.

He soon did hear another bell
Which seemed to warn him of a hell,
He paused and listened to that call:
“There’s room for all! There’s room for all!”
Then to the town of B. he went,
As if by some foul demon sent,
To hear that far renowed bell
And hear the tale it had to tell.

“Down Methodists and Covenanters!”
And all such kind of weak dissenters,
Came from that bell up in the steeple
Alarming all weak-minded people –
And great damnation it did say, 
And “Slander, Slander Mr. K.!”

If really, Peace Maker is your name,
And you would rise high up to fame,
You’d better try some other way
Than blowing for this Mr. K.

If you will write, just write the truth,
And follow him up from his youth – 
And write of him in early days
And show to us his deeds and ways –
And of his acts to use relate
While living in the Keystone state,
And bring his deeds out to our view,
Then we can judge if he is true.

From Chambersburgh he once was going 
He looked quite wise and very knowing,
A lady, too, was by his side,
No doubt they had a pleasant ride!
He talked so fast and smiled so sweet,
(The horses were both strong and fleet)
She was enraptured by his smiles,
And quickly passed away the miles.

He put his arms around her waist
And her sweet lips he then did taste;
This seemed to chill her very heart – 
It pierced her soul just like a dart;
He kissed her o’er and o’er again,
She struggled hard, but all in vain.

“Oh dear!” she said, “if Mrs. K.
Was only here, what would she say?”
“But Mrs. K., she is not here,
So rest contented now, my dear;
And if she was she would not care – 
Your blushes now please try and spare.”

Another time while on the street,
A widow fair he chanced to meet – 
‘Twas very dark – he nearly missed her,
Soon in his arms he caught and kissed her.

Now, if Peace Maker wants to blow,
Just write again and let me know,
And through the Mirror we will write,
And bring some facts out to the light. 

I don't know who wrote the poem, nor can I tell who 'Peace Maker' is. But we do know who wrote the last part of this exchange. Two days after the poem appeared, Rev. Kennedy wrote a response to the Mirror, published in the March 3, 1868 issue:  

"Mr. Mirror – Will you pardon this freedom from one who is to yon an entire stranger, requesting that no article from the pen of any correspondent writing in my favor, appear in the pages of your interesting little sheet.

"Legal investigation will bring the facts of the case referred to, before the public in a manner I trust, that will be satisfactory to every lover of Truth and Justice in this community.

"The article from 'Peace Maker' was written and published without my knowledge or approval.

"Yours truly, J Kennedy"

The legal case was completed in early 1870 with the jury determining that Kennedy had been slandered. Go to my blog to read the rest of the story. Go to: Bovina (NY) History: Kennedy vs. Lee - Part I - Libel of Slander (bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com) to see the first part of the story. Part II is at Bovina (NY) History: Kennedy vs. Lee - Part II - The Bed Was Badly Tumbled (bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com)

June 1921 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

 

The Bovina column in the Andes Recorder 100 years ago reported on work on the Bovina Center creamery and out of town visitors.

June 3, 1921

• Mrs. G.J. Dickson was at Syracuse attending the graduation of her dauter Marjorie.

• Joseph Rogers and Hugh Gillispie, of New York, were at Lake Delaware from Saturday until Monday.  Mr. Rogers reports that William Gordon, who has been very ill from blood poisoning following an operation, is very much better.  While he now has sciatica rheumatism his ultimate recovery is looked for.  He is a grandson of the late Thomas Gordon.

June 10, 1921

• Mrs. Frank Russell, on Russell hill, is having her house re-shingled.

• Mrs. George H. Miller has purchased an Overland automobile from Wm. T. Hyzer, of Andes.

• Mrs. Hamilton Russell is ill with inflammatory rheumatism.  Her sister Mrs. Susan Adair, is staying with her. [Mrs. Russell, the former Margaret Doig, was the mother of Cecil Russell.]

• William Johnson and wife, of Kansas, arrived at the home of his sister, Mrs. Alex Crosier, at the Butt End, on Sabbath evening.  They left home on May 23, and covered over 1,700 miles in their Maxwell car.

• The mail route from Bovina to Bloomville, viz Bovina Center, has been let to James A. Liddle, for four years from July 1, at $1480 per year, which is $280 more than the first bid which the government rejected.

• The smoke-stack was raised Saturday on the large boiler at the Co-Op creamery, which will be used to condense the skim milk.  Vats, a pasteurizer, etc. purchased from the defunct Delaware & Greene creamery at Arkville, were brought here this week.  

June 17, 1921

• The assessors are on their rounds.

• Miss Jennie E. Miller is visiting friends at Hamden.

• A New York inspector is here inspecting milk and barns.

• Miss Angelica L. Gerry has arrived at the Gerry summer home at Lake Delaware.

• Alex Myers is painting the store occupied by Cecil Russell – the old Thos E. Hastings store.

• The condenser for condensing the skim milk at the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery, was started up Tuesday [Jun 14].

• Miss Carrie Dumond has gone to Stamford, where she will be employed during the boarding season at the Madison house.

• Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lunn, from near Seattle arrived in town last Thursday to visit relatives.  Mrs. Lunn is a daughter of the late Robert Forrest of Coulter Brook.

• Master Ledger Myers is the proud possessor of a pair of gold link cuff buttons as a result of winning the standing broad jump of the juniors at the recent field day at Delhi.

• Nelson Reynolds is making alterations in the interior of the United Presbyterian church.  The first row of seats has been removed and the pulpit extended forward in order to give more room for the choir behind the pulpit.

June 24, 1921

• Nelson Reynolds has gone to Meredith to work at his trade – carpenter.

• Walter Huhn, of Brooklyn, has moved into R.B. McFarland’s house below the Hook.

• Alex Myers has completed painting the Russell store and is now painting the house of Milton Hastings.

• Charles A. Lee had both ankles sprained by a fall from a ladder while working at the home of his brother, A.P. Lee.

• Dr. James Crosier, who has a dental office in Philadelphia, is visiting his mother, Mrs. Alex Crosier, in upper Bovina.

• A reunion of the McNair Family will be held at W.S. Coulter’s, Andes, July 2.  Bring sandwiches for your family and one other thing to eat – each one also bring knife, fork, spoon, plate and cup and saucer.  

This Day in Bovina for May 2021

The compilation of the daily postings on the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page:

139 years ago today, on May 1, 1882, 13-year-old Jane Isabell Boggs died. She was the daughter of Thomas R. Boggs and Jane Archibald.
 
Sixty-three years ago today, the May 2, 1958 Daily Star carried an article about one of the last one-room schools in Bovina, the Maynard School. Go to the Bovina NY History Blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/06/scholars-in-century-old-schoolhouse.html to see the article.
 
134 years ago today, the May 3, 1887 Stamford Mirror in its Bovina column had this item: "Alex Hilson has bought D.C. [Champ] Worden's farm of 55 acres, at $2800 [This is the former Hilson farm by the Bovina creamery]. D.C. Worden has bought Ira J. Worden's place, containing 34 acres at $1900 [This was somewhere on Pink Street]. Ira has rented Mrs. Ellen Boyd's house and lot in Bovina Centre and proposes to run a livery business." Ellen’s house was located about where Tom and Betty Hilson’s house is located. The original house burned in 1916. Ira Worden was the father of Champ Worden. Ellen was Champ's sister-in-law.
 
Sixty-eight years ago today, on May 4, 1953, the Bovina Library reported on a number of books given to its collection. This is the report as published in the Catskill Mountain News on May 15. 

 
Sixty-six years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 5, 1955 Stamford Mirror-Recorder included this item: "Marshall Thomson resigned his position in the Bovina Creamery on May 1. Marvin Archibald is now employed in the creamery here."
 
135 years ago today, the May 6, 1886 issue of the Andes Recorder in its Bovina column reported that "Thomas H. Johnson has added to his extensive machinery a new loom of an improved pattern, which is probably the best one in the county.  He and his sons are capable of doing a large amount of work with the machinery at their command. They not only make all kinds of woolen cloth, but grind feed, saw lumber, etc." This would have been for Johnson's Woolen Mill, which was located near the Mountain Brook area.
 
108 years ago today, the May 7, 1913 Delaware Gazette had this item concerning a possible railroad coming to Bovina yet again: "The recent visit to Andes of R. B. Williams and Jos. Jermyn of Scranton, has made people in that vicinity wonder if Jermyn & Williams are still interested in the extension of the Andes branch [of the railroad] to Bovina and possibly to Delhi. Surveyor Howland informed us a few years ago that when the branch was built it was the intention of the company to extend it to Bovina, and that was why the road went into Andes village at such a high grade, in order to strike the road bed of the defunct Andes & Delhi R. R."
 
Ninety-five years ago today, on May 8, 1926, the town clerk certified that a resolution was adopted authorizing the issuance of a Certificate of Indebtness to allow for the purchase of a stone raking machine. 

 
119 years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 9, 1902 Andes Recorder reported that "Three butcher carts now come round with meat – Perry Shaw, of Bloomville, William McDivitt, of Andes, and Ward Coulter, of this place."
 
Twenty-six years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 10, 1995 Walton Reporter included this: "Plan to attend the Bovina Emergency Squad open house to celebrate 20 years of service to the community at the fire hall on May 21, from 2-4 pm. Cake and punch will be served. There will be exhibits of current equipment and information on plans for the future."
 
141 years ago today, the Stamford Mirror's Bovina column for May 11, 1880 reported that "Mrs. David Miller Sr., is seriously ill." This was the former Isabella Turnbull, the second wife of David Miller (1795-1883). She survived this illness, dying in May 1883.
 
Eighty-one years ago today, on May 12, 1940, as later reported in the Delaware Republican's Bovina column reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Sylvan LaFever of Florida were here and attended Church." This likely was Sylvan's last visit to Bovina for a month later on June 10, he died in Patterson, New Jersey. Sylvan was my great grandfather.
 
Seventy-eight years ago today, the May 13, 1943, the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican carried this item: "Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ormiston and sons John and Mark were with his mother and brother and sisters Marjorie, Lois Davidson and Ruth Monroe and their families on Mother's Day."
 
132 years ago today, the May 14, 1889 Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "The family of John W. Bramley has been quarantined the past week, but Mr. B. thought this was 'free America,' and went to Delhi regardless of the Board of Health. There is some talk of enforcing the law."
 
145 years ago today, on May 15, 1876, Isaac Atkin died. His death was later reported in the Delaware Gazette under the title "Sudden Death in Bovina." The paper noted that "Atkins, after working on his farm…until near night, started to go for the cows, and was shortly after found by his son, dead in the road." Isaac was a lifelong resident of Bovina.
 
Fifty-six years ago today, on May 16, 1965, Lib Blair passed away. Born Elizabeth Jannette Miller in 1867, she was the daughter of John Thomas Miller and Nancy Armstrong. She was two years old when her mother died. A year later, her father remarried to Eleanor Thompson. Lib married John W. Blair in 1889 - he died in 1945. She had two children, son Millard and daughter Helen. Lib was 97 when she died. Her daughter Helen would exceed her mother's age by a decade, dying at 107 in 1997.
 
131 years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 17, 1890 Delaware Republican reported that "Our milliners have returned from the city with a large stock of head-gear, and now they are busy day and night rigging out the ladies with that mysterious ornament which adorns their top-knots. If a woman's bonnet is not a thing of beauty, it is a mysterious thing."
 
Sixty years ago today, the May 18, 1961 Bovina column in the Delaware Republican Express included this item: "At the local contest for beauty queen at Dairyland Festival, there were eight contestants. The winner was Reneta Rabeler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Rabeler jr. She is a student of South Kortright Central School."
 
Seventy-one years ago today, the Catskill Mountain News for May 19, 1950 had a front page article about the welcome given to the new pastor of the Bovina U.P. Church, Stanley McMaster and his family, under the title "New Pastor Presented With Pantry Shelves Full of Food." The article went on to describe the program presented in the church basement: "Program numbers included several Negro spirituals sung by pupils of the school directed Mrs. Frank McPherson, a piano solo by Miss Norma Burns, an instrumental number by Richard Roberts and James Hoy, a reading by Ronald Walley. The Hillbillies, Norris Boggs, William Davis, John Sulzer and Ernest Segar, played and sang. Rev. Charles McClung of Oneonta gave a welcome from Delaware Presbytery. The double quartet, accompanied by Mrs. Richard Crosley on the piano, sang two numbers. "The room was decorated with bouquets of daffodils and at one end were pantry shelves filled to overflowing with cans of fruit, vegetables and many other articles for the parsonage pantry. A clever presentation speech with the Mother Hubbard theme was given by Mrs. Eugene Vandenbord. Rev. McMaster responded by expressing their appreciation for the gifts and for all that had been done to make their arrival here a pleasant one."
 
136 years ago today, the May 20, 1885 Delaware Gazette carried this notice for the construction of a new school house at Lake Delaware.

 
Ten years ago today, on May 21, 2011, Marge and Cliff Burgin celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at the Bovina Community Hall.

 
125 years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 22, 1896 Andes Recorder reported that "Slight showers have brightened up vegetation this week, but much more rain is still needed."
 
Sixty-eight years ago today, the May 23, 1953 Stamford Mirror-Recorder had several items in its Bovina column. Headlined "Vacation Trip has Mishap for Jane Hilson," the column went on to report that "Jane Hilson broke her arm while on a vacation trip through the southern states." The column also included two items about Floyd Aitkens: "Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Aitkens and sons, Billy and Alan, were in Binghamton on Monday for a check-up on Billy's arm." The column later reported that "Floyd Aitkens attended the New York State Bowling Tournament at Rochester on Saturday."
 
Eighty-six years ago today, the May 24, 1935 Delaware Express reported that "Dr. Whitcomb Dies in Egypt." The articled noted that "Dr. Norris B. Whitcomb, 47, a beloved physician who was formerly located in Bovina Center and for the past sixteen years a medical missionary at Assuit, Egypt, died last week, death, according to report being due to blood poisoning." He was survived by his mother, sister, wife and two children.
 
Eighty-two years ago today, the May 25, 1939 issue of the Delaware Republican published this photograph by R.R. DeGelleke of Jack Hilson in his High School shop class. 

 
110 years ago today, the May 26, 1911 Andes Recorder in its Bovina column reported that "Monday was the hottest May day ever known here - 95 degrees." The same column also reported that "Miss Helena Strangeway is visiting her sister, Mrs. Leon Taggart, at Potsdam."
 
Eighty-three years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 27, 1938 Andes Recorder reported that "A daily vacation school is being planned at Bovina Center during the summer."
 
106 years ago today, the May 28, 1915 Catskill Mountain News carried this item under the title "Bovina Center to Celebrate:" "There was a meeting of public spirited men in Bovina Center during the past week, in the interest of a ball team, a tennis club, and a Fourth of July celebration."
 
109 years ago today, the May 29, 1912 Delaware Gazette carried the following item: "Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Gerry have been at Lake Delaware for a few days. The erection of a very fine mansion, on the farm he recently purchased, the making of a lake of considerable size, and the building of a new chapel and boys summer home requires careful supervision and he is neglecting nothing that may make it not only an ideal summer home, but also ideal for all of the other purposes that they have in view."
 
119 years ago today, on May 30, 1902, the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "Truant officer, B.S. Miller has been visiting the schools this week."
 
Twenty-six years ago today, the May 31, 1995 Catskill Mountain News reported that a 'Twister' had hit Bovina Center. Here's the article: